■ 


FIRST  CRUSE  OF  THE  "MONITOR11 
PASSAIC 

Holden 


Library  of 
The  University  of  North  Carolina 


COLLECTION  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINIANA 


ENDOWl       .r 

JOHN  SPRl     r  HILL 

of  the  Class    f  1889 


Qd  97o,7S^  ftu 


HARPER'S 

NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


No.  CLXL-OCTOBER,  1863.— VOL.  XXVII. 


THE  PAS8AIO   AT   SEA* 


THE  FIRST  CRUISE  OF  THE  "MONITOR"  PASSAIC. 


ALTHOUGH  the  vivid  excitement  follow- 
ing the  first  conflict  between  iron-clad 
ships  has  subsided,  and  fears  and  anticipations 
have  alike  been  cooled  by  farther  experience, 
the  results  attained  by  the  iron-mail  innovation 
in  naval  architecture  have  been  of  too  grave 
importance  to  allow  public  interest  to  die. 

We  could  not  but  expect  that  the  powers  of 
the  first  Monitor  should  be  magnified  to  the  ut- 
most, after  its  eventful  trial  in  Hampton  Roads, 
since  in  every  case  where  a  great  and  startling 
novelty  meets  triumphant  success  at  the  outset 
the  hopes  of  some  and  the  fears  of  others  are  sure 
to  exaggerate  its  importance.  Had  the  first-at- 
tack upon  Charleston  been  viewed  without  this 
magnified  expectancy,  there  would  have  been 
far  less  disappointment  at  the  result.  In  judg- 
ing of  powers  of  defense  we  overrated  those  of 
offeflse,  and  so  fell  into  error ;  yet  of  one  thing 
we  may  be  convinced,  that  ships  of  the  Monitor 


class  approach  nearer  invulnerability  than  any 
yet  designed.  Of  their  sea-going  qualities  the 
following  account  of  a  complete  cruise  may  fur- 
nish some  idea— the  ship  having  weathered 
the  gale  in  which  the  original  Monitor  was  lost. 
The  story  has  been  transcribed  in  its  original 
form  as  written  on  shipboard,  leaving  out  mere- 
ly such  items  as  could  be  of  benefit  to  the  ene- 
my. First,  however,  it  should1  be  remembered 
that  the  Passaic  (the  second  of  her  class  afloat) 
differs  from  her  predecessor  in  being  larger,  more 
commodious,  more  heavily  plated,  and  in  having 
one  gun  of  heavier  calibre. 

We  sailed  from  New  York  Wednesday,  No- 
vember 2G,  18G2,  bound  f»r  Fortress  Monroe. 
The  weather  was  beautiful ;  but  we  saw  the  night 
settle  down  with  some  misgivings,  for  we  were 
trying  a  dangerous  experiment.  Only  once  be- 
fore had  a  vessel  like  ourselves  attempted  it,  and 
her  narrow  escape  was  too  fresh  in  our  memories. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1863,  hy  H-rper  and  Brothers,  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  Dis- 
trict Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 
Vol.  XXVII.— No.  161.— 0  o 


>0 


578 


HARPER'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


However,  we  were  in  tow  of  a  side-wheelsteamer, 
and  the  sloop-of-war  Dacotah  was  our  convoy. 
Toward  morning  the  wind  arose,  the  waves  in- 
creased, and  our  hatches  not  being  very  securely 
fastened,  and  far  from  tight,  leaked  in  constant 
streams ;  day  broke  and  passed,  yet  still  the  wind 
increased.  Every  wave  broke  over  our  low  decks, 
and,  like  a  huge  sea-monster,  the  ship  plunged 
through  them,  dripping  and  leaking  in  a  manner 
unpleasantly  suggestive.  So  long  a%  the  en- 
gines worked  we  had  little  fear,  though  all  on 
board  were  novices  at  such  navigation :  indeed 
we  were  becoming  used  to  our  strange  craft  when 
whir-r-r  went  the  wheel  and  round  we  came  to 
the  wind — the  steering  apparatus  had  given  way. 
A  dozen  men  were  quickly  on  deck,  and  a  tem- 
porary apparatus  rigged  as  soon  as  possible. 
The  permanent  steering  gear  was  beneath  decks, 
for  protection  in  battle,  though  the  prolongation 
of  the  rudder- head  upward  through  the  armor 
had  been  designed  as  an  attachment  for  a  lever 
in  an  emergency.  By  means  of  this  lever  and 
ropes  carried  into  the  turret  through  the  port- 
stoppers  the  new  arrangement  was  made.  The 
break  was  soon  repaired,  though  three  times  that 
day  it  broke  again. 

On  the  evening  of  Friday  we  had  plunged  and 
plowed  along  as  far  as  a  night's  voyage  from  the 
Fortress  when  we  were  suddenly  startled  by  a 
dull  report,  a  shout,  and  then  a  rush  of  men 
from  the  engine-room,  accompanied  by  a  hissing 
cloud  of  steam  and  smoke.  "The  ship's  on 
fire ! "  was  first  the  alarming  cry,  followed  by  the 
"All  hands  to  quarters!"    "Train  along  the 


hose !"  the  hurry  of  many  feet,  the  groans  of  the 
scalded,  and  the  cries  of  the  terrified  struggling 
to  get  up  the  ladder  to  the  deck.  For  a  mo- 
ment there  was  confusion,  then  a  lull  and  again 
the  cry,  "The  boilers  have  burst !"  With  alac- 
rity the  men  sprang  to  the  hatches  of  the  fire- 
room.  Swifter  than  it  can  be  told  they  tore 
them  off,  and  one  after  another  was  taken  out 
almost  stifled,  wet,  breathless,  and  exhausted. 
Fortunately  none  were  found  seriously  injured, 
and  though  we  could  not,  of  course,  determine  at 
once  the  nature  of  our  disaster,  we  hoped  it 
might  prove  slight.  The  scalded  were  immedi- 
ately cared  for,  and  as  our  pumps  were  stopped 
we  became  settled  in  the  conviction  that  only  a 
lull  in  wind  and  wave  could  prevent  our  going 
down.  Providentially  this  occurred,  and  towed, 
like  a  log,  we  entered  that  night  the  harbor  of 
Hampton  Roads. 

What  a  change  for  us !  We  had  anticipated 
a  triumphant  entry,  and  to  have  been  greeted  by 
cheers  from  the  crowded  transports  that  we  sup- 
posed were  waiting  our  convoyance  southward ; 
but  instead  of  that  not  even  a  whistle  was  blown, 
or  a  single  evidence  of  satisfaction  shown  by 
any. 

We  had  been  at  Fortress  Monroe  but  twelve 
hours  when  the  blue  flag  of  the  Admiral  was 
seen  coming  in,  and  immediately  on  his  arrival 
the  Captain  reported  the  accident.  A  short  in- 
terview resulted  in  our  proceeding  as  soon  as 
possible  to  Washington  for  repairs. 

Two  steam  tugs  were  sent  to  us,  and  early  Sun- 
day morning,  November  30,   1862    we  started 


'•■■*s8&.\.-^     ."  iSs 


THE  snip's  ON  FIEE ! 


CRUISE  OF  THE  PASSAIC. 


579 


for  Washington.  The  tugs  took  np  position  on 
either  side ;  for  it  was  found  that  in  any  other 
position  we  were  continually  yawing  in  different 
directions,  the  bulky  iron  mass  refusing  to  obey 
her  helm  while  the  propeller  was  not  in  motion. 
It  was  deemed  advisable  to  keep  the  news  of  the 
accident  from  the  public,  and  accordingly,  much 
to  the  chagrin  of  numerous  reporters,  the  Navy- 
yard  was  closed  to  visitors,  and  silence  enjoined 
upon  officers  and  crew.  This  was  fortunate, 
since  we  could  not  but  feel  some  mortification 
at  returning  for  repairs  so  soon  after  our  promis- 
ing departure  from  New  York.  The  amount  of 
injury  was  quickly  ascertained,  upon  arrival  at 
Washington,  to  be  the  breaking  of  numerous 
iron-stays  which,  joining  the  tube  sheet  of  a 
square  boiler  to  its  roof,  are  intended  to  aid  in 
resisting  the  upward  pressure.  Upon  the  break- 
ing of  these  stays  the  roofs  of  both  boilers  had 
been  forced  up  against  the  deck  timbers,  whose 
immense  strength  alone,  bound  down  as  they 
were  by  the  mailed  decks,  saved  us  from  destruc- 
tion. Workmen  were  immediately  employed, 
and  day  and  night  the  ship  resounded  with  the 
ring  of  hammer  and  anvil.  All  day  that  inces- 
sant ring  and  the  muffled  sound  of  voices  came 
from  the  huge  boilers,  until  one  Monday  morn- 
ing, just  twelve  days  after  our  arrival,  the  work 
was  pronounced  complete.  Then  came  prepara- 
tions for  a  new  departure,  but  various  changes 
and  improvements  about  the  ship  consumed 
the  time,  and  not  until  Christmas  did  we  again 
steam  southward.  Though  hopeful,  and  con- 
fident of  success  in  our  undertaking,  we  saw 
the  city  recede  from  view  with  some  regret,  and 
a  half  fear  that  we  were  destined  to  be  unfortu- 
nate. How  far  our  anticipations  were  realized, 
the  experience  of  a  single  week  was  destined  to 
show.  We  sailed  alone;  no  convoy  this  time 
was  with  us ;  and  on  Saturday  arrived  at  Fort- 
ress Monroe.  Before  leaving  Washington  news 
had  arrived  of  the  sailing  of  the  Montauk  (a  sis- 
ter ship)  from  New  York,  for  the  same  port,  and 
we  anticipated  finding  her  already  arrived.     To 


our  surprise  she  was  not,  though  overdue.  The 
Monitor  lay  there,  however,  painted  a  sombre 
black,  and  looking  almost  like  our  own  reflec- 
tion in  the  water.  How  little  did  we  think  her 
career  was  so  nearly  run !  All  night  our  fears 
were  great  for  the  Montauk's  safety ;  she  was 
two  or  three  days  over  time,  and  the  weather 
had  been  far  from  good ;  a  heavy  fog  settled,  so 
dense  as  to  hide  objects  completely  at  half  the 
ship's  length.  All  day,  and  again  all  night, 
we  looked  in  vain  Seaward,  until,  as  morning 
dawned,  our  worst  fears  seemed  realized,  for 
within  sight  was  the  Connecticut,  the  iron-clad's 
convoy,  alone.    The  truth  was  but  too  apparent 


"montauk's  coming  en,  sib." 


580 


HARPER'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


MAREOW  ESCAPE. 


— she  was  lost.  We  looked  at  each  other  in 
silence  and  dismay.  No  one  then  can  imagine 
our  feelings  when  the  Quarter-master  on  watch 
announced,  "The  Montauk's  coming  in,  Sir!" 
Surely  she  was,  and  steaming  along  finely  alone. 
We  could  not  but  feel  sincerely  thankful,  from 
a  kind  of  sympathy  as  if  of  relationship,  not 
dreaming  that  so  soon  we  should  be  in  greater 
need  of  it. 

At  noon  on  Monday,  the  29th  of  December, 
1S62,  we  weighed  anchor  and  stood  out  to  sea. 
The  State  of  Georgia,  a  large  side-wheel  steam- 
er, was  to  convoy  us.  She  was  lying  in  wait 
about  twelve  miles  down  the  bay,  to  give  us  a 
fair  opportunity  to  show  our  sailing  qualities  to 
an  English  man-of-war  that  had  apparently  en- 
tered port  to  watch  us.  We  did  very  well  alone, 
for  the  water  lay  as  quiet  as  a  mill-pond.  When 
we  neared  our  convoy  she  was  under  way,  mov- 
ing very  slowly.  A  man  stood  on  the  starboard 
quarter  with  a  line  to  throw  on  our  deck,  to  take 
us  in  tow.  There  was  still  too  great  a  distance 
between  us  to  enable  him  to  reach,  and  we  start- 
ed a  little  ahead.  The  steamer  also  started,  just 
at  that  moment  attempting  to  run  across  our 
bow.  It  was  a  dangerous  experiment,  and  nearly 
a  fatal  one  to  her.  We  neared  rapidly ;  every 
one  started  forward  to  see  the  collision.  She 
rang  her  engine-bell  furiously  and  dashed  ahead 
— hardly  in  time,  for  we  struck  her  rudder,  forc- 
ing it  over  to  port,  and  hurling  her  pilot  to  the 
deck  by  the  sudden  revolution  of  her  wheel. 
Fortunately  only  her  chains  were  broken  and 
the  pilot  but  slightly  injured.     A  boat  was  low- 


ered and  the  damage  quickly  repaired.  Again 
we  started,  the  wind  blowing  from  the  south 
and  promising  rain.  Before  losing  sight  of  Cape 
Henry  Light-house  the  Monitor  was  made  out 
just  on  the  horizon,  following  us  in  tow  of  the 
steamer  Rhode  Island,  and  out  toward  sea  the 
English  man-of-war. 

About  sunset  the  wind  freshened  somewhat, 
and  the  swell  of  the  sea  increased.  We  rolled 
a  little,  but  not  very  disagreeably ;  none  but  the 
ward-room  boys  were  sea-sick,  and  only  one  par- 
ticularly so — that  was  our  latest  importation, 
and  we  had  named  him  Cupid.  He  was  first 
noticed  as  appearing  a  little  melancholy,  accord- 
ing to  the  usual  style ;  then,  as  the  rolling  mo- 
tion increased,  becoming  solemn,  rapidly  verg- 
ing on  the  comical,  and  finally  sinking  to  repose 
with  his  head  gracefully  reclined  over  a  spittoon. 

About  one  o'clock  a  leak  was  discovered  near 
the  turret  in  the  boat-davit  socket,  and  another 
in  the  socket  of  the  turret  itself.  This  latter 
had  arisen  from  oversight  in  neglecting  to  lower 
the  turret.  This  could  be  accomplished  by  driv- 
ing out  a  huge  key  at  the  base  of  the  shaft, 
thereby  allowing  the  whole  mass  to  sink  about 
an  eighth  of  an  inch.  There  was  no  alternative 
but  to  do  this  at  once.  Now  to  drive  it  in  was 
not  a  difficult  matter,  for  a  battering-ram  had 
been  provided  for  the  purpose,  and  swinging 
room  was  allowed  through  the  entrance-way  to 
the  turret-chamber ;  but  to  drive  it  out  was  an- 
other matter.  There  was  no  room  to  swing  the 
ram,  and  the  pressure  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
tons  would  hardlv  allow  the  turret  to  moveeasi- 


CRUISE  OF  THE  PASSAIC. 


581 


ly.  For  several  hours  every  effort. was  .made 
with  sledges  and  screw  braces  to  start  that  key, 
but  with  only  partial  success;  meantime  the 
waves  rose  higher,  the  wind  freshened,  and  as 
the  water  poured  over  our  decks  in  larger  vol- 
umes, the  stream  grew  to  fearful  size. 

By  noon  the  next  day  we  were  off  Cape  Hat- 
teras,  the  wind  all  the  time  increasing  and  still 
ahead.  Signals  were  made  to  the  State  of 
Georgia  to  head  more  inshore.  Toward  dusk 
a  steamer  passed  us  with  a  clipper  ship  in  tow 
loaded  with  troops,  and  the  Monitor  was  made 
out  far  ahead. 

We  were  a  little  mortified  to  think  she  had  so 
far  beaten  us,  and  every  thing  but  blessed  the 
pilot  of  the  Georgia,  who  was  again  heading  out 
to  sea.  Once  more  signals  were  made  as  before, 
and  at  the  same  moment  a  leak  was  discovered 
in  out  bows,  apparently  from  the  straining  of 
the  projecting  part.  A  stream  was  poured  in 
like  a  miniature  cataract,  but  with  the  velocity 
of  that  of  a  steam-engine,  and  threatening  to 
give  serious  trouble. 

About  seven  in  the  evening  another  leak  was 
found  in  the  after-part  of  the  ship,  that  in  the 
turret  increasing,  and  both  our  main  pumps 
(two  Worthingtons)  just  given  out.  Signal- 
lights  were  burned,  ordering  the  State  of  Geor- 
gia to  turn  back  again  for  the  nearest  lee.  Be- 
fore midnight  the  gale  blew  so  fearfully  that 
we  began  really  to  fear  for  our  safety ;  and  es- 
pecially when  the  wind  was  found  to  be  changing 
and  blowing  again  ahead.  The  leak  gained 
rapidly,  and  we  began  to  despair  of  ever  seeing 


THE  LEAK. 


port.  All  hands  were  ordered  to  take  out  bal- 
last, to  lighten  ship.  It  was  done  in  vain. 
Shot  were  then  ordered  up  to  be  thrown  over- 
board— four  hundred  were  thrown  over  without 
lessening  or  retarding  the  leak.  Another  pump 
gave  out,  and  our  last  resort,  the  pumps  known 
as  the  bilge-injections,  were  the  only  ones  at 
work.  Coston's  signal-lights  were  burned,  and 
a  rocket  sent  up,  indicating  our  distress,  and 
informing  the  State  of  Georgia  that  we  were 
sinking. 

While  the  lights  were  burning  a  steamer  was 
discovered  through  the  darkness,  on  the  port 
bow  also  burning  signals.  All  this  time  we 
were  rolling  fearfully.  At  intervals  the  gale 
would  burst  with  redoubled  fury,  and  we  would 


BAILING  ALL  WIGHT. 


582 


HARPER'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


HEN  EXHAUSTED. 


rise  high  on  a  monstrous  wave,  and  then  plunge 
down  completely  out  of  sight  of  our  convoy,  or 
come  crashing  down  on  the  succeeding  wave, 
with  a  shock  that  made  the  ship  tremble  like 
an  aspen.  By  one  o'clock  the  water  had  gained 
so  fast  that  all  hands  were  turned  to  bailing, 
passing  the  water  in  buckets  up  through  the  tur- 
ret to  be  thrown  over. 

Officers  and  men  toiled  at  the  work  with  an 
energy  that  could  be  stimulated  only  by  despe- 
ration. Huge  masses  of  water  rolled  over  our 
decks,  while  over  the  turret  the  wave,  sometimes 
in  solid  mass,  would  sweep  like  a  tornado.  Wet 
through,  faint,  cold,  and  despairing,  we  bailed 
and  bailed,  hoping  beyond  hope.  Our  boats 
were  useless,  and  those  of  the  Georgia  could 
never  have,  lived  an  instant.  Still  we  worked 
on,  stimulating  each  other  to  renewed  activity, 
some  shouting,  some  singing  with  forced  gayety, 
and  sqme  working  with  the  languid  air  of  com- 
plete exhaustion.  For  three  long  hours  not  one 
complained,  but  then  there  came  the  depressing 
news,  "The  water  is  gaining,  and  within  three 
inches  of  the  fires ;"  and  swift  on  that,  "  Our 
last  pumps  are  gone!" 

The  water  swashed  and  hissed  over  the  glow- 
ing grates  as  the  ship  rolled  heavily,  and  every 
one  stopped  in  his  work  in  utter  despair.  For 
an  hour  firemen  and  engineers  had  waded  about 
the  engine  and  fire  rooms  knee-deep  in  water, 
and  now  the  subordinates  utterly  refused  to  do 
any  more.'  The  scene  beggars  description. 
Some  sat  down  and  looked  at  the  rising  water 
with  desperate  eagerness ;  some  prayed  and 
cried;  and  some  rushed  to  the  turret  to  be,  if 
possible,  the  last  to  go  down,  or  to  see  the  open 
night  once  more.  Still  there  was  no  confusion. 
Officers  drove  the  men  back  to  their  posts, 
though  most  of  them,  paralyzed  only  for  an  in- 
stant, were  again  at  work. 

Most  providentially  the  pumps  again  began ; 
the  few  moments  they  had  been  stopped  seemed 
hours  to  us,  but  now  hope  returned.  Mean- 
time the  ship  had  been  put  head  on  to  the  shore, 


to  reach  it,  if  possible,  and  beach  her.  Hope 
vain  enough,  for  we  were  forty  miles  away !  yet 
we  thought  that  nearer  in  our  chance  of  escape 
would  be  increased,  and  our  anchor  could  at 
least  reach  to  bring  us  round  to  the  sea.  The 
change  had  saved  us,  the  leak  decreased  as  the 
waves  no  longer  raised  us  up  to  be  plunged  for- 
ward, but  rolled  us  from  side  to  side. 

Once  more  all  hands  were  turned  to  bailing, 
and  we  rapidly  gained  on  the  leak.  So  we 
worked  till  morning.  The  wind  went  down, 
and  with  thankful  hearts  we  blessed  the  Provi- 
dence that  had  preserved  us.  The  men  fell  ex- 
hausted, many  of  them  where  they  had  worked, 
and  slept  on  the  cold,  wet  decks. 

Just  before  the  storm  the  Georgia  signaled 
that  a  man  was  dead  on  board,  and  asked  per- 
mission to  stop  and  bury  him.  It  was  granted, 
in  so  far  as  that  we  moved  more  slowly.  The 
flag  was  lowered  to  half-mast,  a  short  serv- 
ice was  read,  the  plank  on  which  he  lay  was 
raised,  and  he  slid  into  the  sea.  A  melancholy 
burial!  He  had  been  well  that  day  at  noon; 
at  night  he  lay  twenty  fathoms  beneath  the  wa- 
ters. 

Morning  came,  but  our  troubles  were  not  yet 
over ;  all  day  we  kept  our  course,  and  at  night, 
northeast  of  Cape  Lookout,  the  wind  again  in- 
creased. The  gale  returned  from  a  different 
quarter,  and  our  leak  once  more  became  trouble- 
some. Most  fortunately  this  time  our  two  last 
pumps  worked  well.  Still  the  leak  gained 
slightly,  and  we  feared  the  starting  of  some  new 
one.  Even  now  so  desperate  was  our  condition 
that  a  bottle,  containing  a  short  account  of  our 
prospects  and  the  state  of  affairs,  was  sealed  up, 
a  red  flag  attached,  and  the  whole  trusted  to 
the  mercy  of  the  waves,  in  the  hope  that  if  the 
worst  of  our  fears  were  realized  some  one  wonld 
find  it,  and  from  that  account  learn  how  we  had 
gone. 

The  pumps  worked  on,  and  gradually  the 
hope  of  safety  gave  way  to  reality.  Morning 
dawned.     That  night  we  made  Beaufort  harbor, 


CRUISE  OF  THE  PASSAIC. 


583 


OFF  IIATTEBAS. 


North  Carolina ;  a  pilot  came  aboard  and  we 
steamed  in. 

The  very  first  news  we  received  fell  like  a 
weight  upon  our  hearts.  "  The  Monitor  is 
gone  and  all  on  board !"  "She  was  lost  that 
Tuesday  night  off  Hatteras." 

We  could  not  believe  it.  After  our  arrival 
an  officer  of  the  Columbia  came  on  board  and 
confirmed  the  news  in  part.  It  was  the  Colum- 
bia we  had  seen  making  signals  on  our  port- 
bow.  Two  hours  after  that  she  fell  in  with 
the  Rhode  Island  cruising  alone.  She  boarded 
her,  and  found  the  captain  and  the  rescued  offi- 
cers and  crew  of  the  Monitor  on  board.  She 
had  gone  down  indeed,  but  with  only  a  part, 
not  all  her  living  freight.  The  story  must  be 
only  too  fresh  in  the  memory  of  all  to  bear 
repetition.  The  Columbia  reported  us  as  sig- 
naling in  distress  and  sinking,  but  was  unable 
to  render  us  assistance.  They  had  seen  our 
convoy  afterward  alone,  and  of  course  concluded 
we  too  were  gone.  When  we  heard  this  our 
fears  for  the  effect  upon  our  friends  were  very 
great.  The  Columbia  stated  that  the  Rhode 
Island  had  returned  to  Fortress  Monroe  to  re- 
port to  Admiral  Lee.  Our  convoy  was  to  re- 
turn immediately  to  the  Fortress,  and  we  eager- 
ly availed  ourselves  of  the  opportunity  to  write 
and  send  to  the  telegraph-station  at  that  point 
news  of  our  safety  to  those  at  home.  At  night 
the  Captain  of  the  State  of  Georgia  came  on 
board,  stating  that  all  that  Tuesday  night  not  a 
man  lay  down,  but  every  one  stood  at  his  post 
ready  to  lower  the  boats,  though  few  had  hopes 


of  saving  a  single  man.  Several  times  tears 
came  to  the  eyes  of  the  rough  sailors  as  we 
plunged  out  of  sight,  and  they  thought  all  was 
over. 

The  Georgia  sailed  that  night.  What  was 
our  surprise  on  Friday  to  see  the  Rhode  Island 
come  into  Beaufort,  she  having  been  straight  on 
to  Wilmington  instead  of  returning,  leaving  the 
Columbia  to  cruise  around  to  pick  up  any  of  ours 
or  the  Monitor's  crew.  The  Captains  of  the 
Rhode  Island  and  Monitor  came  on  board  very 
much  surprised  to  find  us  safe  and  sound  in 
harbor. 

Following  such  scenes  of  excitement  came 
various  surmisings  as  to  the  effect  of  the  news  on 
the  Northern  public — the  arrival  of  the  Montauk 
after  a  safe  and  comfortable  voyage — her  running 
ashore  on  the  bar  outside,  and  the  anxiety  con- 
nected with  such  an  accident,  and,  last  of  all, 
but  most  important  to  us,  the  arrival  of  the 
mail. 

Gradually  came  on  the  usual  monotony  of 
ship  life,  with  the  necessity  for  some  sort  of 
amusement  or  variety.  The  town  so  near  us 
offered  some  chance  of  the  latter,  and  to  it  there 
was  always  opportunity  to  resort.  A  few  words 
will  describe  the  town  better  than  a  volume. 
One  church,  a  hundred  or  more  low,  awkward 
houses  built  on  one  street  with  a  few  alleys  lead- 
ing thereto,  an  empty  market — sand  half-way  to 
the  knees  every  where,  and  a  community  of  the 
most  assorted  character.  The  few  houses  that 
had  once  been  tenable,  and  perhaps  elegant,  have 
long  stood  stripped  and  desolate.     Hundreds  of 


584 


HAMPER'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


negroes  lounge  about  the  streets,  too  idle  to  shoot 
the  game  that  comes  within  a  stone's-throw  of 
the  land,  and  too  independent  to  hire  themselves 
for  any  sort  of  labor. 

Transports  of  every  variety  were  constantly 
arriving  with  troops,  and  it  was  whispered  that 
Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  was  to  be  the 
place  of  attack.  The  talk  of  the  "expedition" 
was  in  every  body's  mouth,  while  the  most  du- 
bious uncertainty  of  course  prevailed.  That  we 
were  destined  for  that  point  at  first  we  were 
afterward  convinced ;  why  that  destination  was 
changed  it  would  be  of  no  consequence  now  to 
learn.  Sut  changed  it  was,  and  ere  ten  days 
were  passed  we  were  getting  ready  again  for  sea. 
With  the  loss  of  the  Monitor  and  our  own  nar- 
row escape  still  fresh  in  mind,  the  anticipation 
of  another  sea-voyage  was  any  thing  but  exhil- 
arating. 

We  sailed ;  but  before  we  were  fairly  out  of 
the  harbor  round  went  the  wind  to  the  eastward, 
then  to  the  southward,  indicating  bad  weather, 
and  we  let  go  anchor  just  off  Fort  Macon.  This 
fort  commands  the  entrance  to  the  harbor,  and 
is  the  place  where  Burnside  made  his  successful 
attack  in  the  early  part  of  the  war.  It  is  an 
earth-work  mounting  several  rifled  guns,  and  ap- 
pearing like  an  inverted  tea-saucer  of  monstrous 
size  set  upon  another  still  larger.  The  guns  are 
all  en  barbette.  As  the  market  seemed  most 
wretchedly  supplied,  and  wild  game  plenty,  sev- 
eral of  the  officers  made  excursions  to  supply 
deficiencies.  The  first  was  for  clams  and  oys- 
ters, and  successful,  as  the  shore  is  thoroughly 
covered  with  the  bivalves,  but  the  second  was 
up  to  Bogue  Sound,  a  few  miles  from  the  ship, 


for  game,  and  was  not  successful ;  yet  all  the 
afternoon  we  pulled  from  one  shoal  to  another, 
or  waded  nearly  waist-deep  around  the  shores  in 
our  endeavors  to  get  within  range  of  the  innu- 
merable flocks  of  ducks.  .  The  boat  was  heavy, 
and  the  oars  made  such  a  splashing  that  we 
found  it  utterly  useless.  After  all  our  trouble, 
just  rfs  the  sun  was  setting,  we  found  ourselves 
aground  on  a  sand-bar  and  ignorant  of  the  chan- 
nel. We  tried  rowing,  then  pushing ;  then,  as 
a  last  alternative,  jumped  overboard,  and  all 
hands  tugged  along  to  deep  water.  Every  few 
minutes  we  had  to  repeat  it,  and  not  till  some 
time  after  dark  did  we  reach  the  ship,  cold,  wet, 
and  hungry. 

In  such  ways  we  passed  the  time  until  Satur- 
day, when,  the  weather  being  good,  we  started 
once  more  southward,  this  time  in  tow  of  the 
Rhode  Island.  The  crew  were  not  a  little 
gloomy  and  somewhat  superstitious  about  "  the 
ship  that  lost  the  Monitor;"  for  having  so  nar- 
rowly escaped  before,  fate  seemed  to  be  against 
us,  and  the  fact  that  the  paymaster  was  at  this 
time  ordered  to  transfer  his  papers  and  money 
to  the  Rhode  Island,  certainly  did  not  tend  to 
increase  their  confidence.  The  morning  of  de- 
parture had  brought  a  change  of  wind  after  a 
storm  of  28  hours,  and  we.  hoped  for  a  good  run 
down  the  coast.  The  Montauk  started  with  us, 
and  in  the  delightful  serenity  of  mind  occasioned 
by  our  seeming  ill-luck  we  were  obliged  to  stop 
for  some  difficulty  in  attachment  of  our  hawsers 
and  see  her  pass  us.  So  long  did  our  convoy 
stop,  even  anchoring,  that  we  inwardly  wished 
her  at  the  bottom.  To  make  delay  still  longer 
a  man  must  needs  drop  overboard  from  her,  and 


INHABITANTS  OF  BEAUFORT. 


CRUISE  OF  THE  PASSAIC. 


585 


splash  about  and  cre- 
ate confusion  on  the 
ship  till  he  could  be 
picked  up,  which  was 
safely  done  after  ho 
had  become  pretty 
thoroughly  exhausted. 

The  sun  was  just 
disappearing  when  the 
steady  beat  of  the  pro- 
peller announced  the 
delay  over,  and  straight 
out  toward  the  long 
shoals  that  make  off 
Cape  Fear,  called  the 
Frying-pan,  we  turn- 
ed our  course.  The 
breeze,  so  light  in  the 
evening,  slowly  in- 
creased until,  with  our 
usual  luck,  it  became 
a  gale.  As  it  only 
helped  us  onward, 
however,  we  did  not 
complain,  and  went  to 
sleep  with  a  good  deal 
of  confidence.  All 
night  the  heavy  ship 
bowled  along  before 
the  storm,  her  engines 
working  well,  and  the 
leaks  not  troublesome, 
save  from  the  rushing 
and  unpleasantly-sug- 
gestive splash  of  the 
water.  On  Sunday, 
about  four  o'clock, 
we  concluded  that 
we  must  be  about 
off  Charleston,  South 

Carolina.  The  Rhode  Island  rolled  and  plunged 
about  in  the  heavy  sea,  sometimes  being  hid- 
den to  the  tops  of  her  paddle-boxes,  then  ris- 
ing and  careening  till  we  could  almost  see  her 
keel.  For- us  it  was  any  thing  but  pleasant, 
as  one  may  imagine,  the  water  rushing  in- 
cessantly over  our  decks,  five  or  six  feet  in  sol- 
id mass,  and  dashing  the  spray  high  over  our 
turret.  All  were  anxious,  and  neither  offi- 
cers nor  men  undressed  to  sleep,  but  watched 
the  prospect  from  the  turret.  At  noon  on  Mon- 
day the  wind  changed,  and  a  heavy  fog  obscured 
every  thing  of  sea  and  sky  to  within  a  ship's- 
ler.gth.  We  could  hardly  see  even  our  con- 
sort. Sisals  were  made  from  her  to  tell  us 
we  were  within  twenty-eight  miles  of  the  light- 
ship off  Port  Royal,  when  suddenly  it  loomed 
up  right  ahead  of  us,  and  "Breakers  on  the 
starboard  bow!"  told  us  pretty  plainly  that  we 
had  lost  our  reckoning. 

It  began  to  rain,  and  the  storm  changed  sud- 
denly to  the  southeast.  The  Rhode  Island  fired 
a  gun,  and  let  go  both  bower  anchors,  with  the 
effect  of  bringing  us  head  on  to  a  tremendous 
sea.  We  rose  and  fell  with  startling  violence, 
fearing  every  moment  we  should  lose  our  pro- 


TOW13SG  KOUKD  FEYLNG-PAN   6I10AL8. 

jecting  bow  or  spring  a  new  leak,  the  result  of 
which  we  knew  full  well.  The  necessity  for 
running  before  the  sea  became  most  apparent, 
for  the  waves  were  absolutely  mountainous.  To 
give  some  idea  of  their  violence :  a  heavy  iron 
plate,  weighing  1500  pounds,  used  as  a  cover 
for  the  anchor-well,  but  at  sea  lashed  to  the 
deck,  was  torn  from  its  fastenings,  lifted  half 
the  height  of  the  turret,  and  dashed  down  with 
terrific  violence.  The  ship  could  not  have  lived 
through  it  an  hour.  We  were  obliged,  so  very 
thick  it  was,  by  the  time  the  Rhode  Island's 
anchors  were  up,  to  run  before  the  gale  out  to 
sea.  Hour  after  hour,  for  miles,  we  were  hurl- 
ed along,  growing  less  and  less  hopeful,  and  ig- 
norant of  our  whereabouts.  About  7  a.m.  the 
following  morning  a  buoy  was  made  out,  sup- 
posed to  be  off  Tybee  Island.  Still  running 
on,  we  must  have  been  about  off  St.  Catherine's 
Island,  when  the  gale  lulled  a  few  minutes,  and 
changed  to  another  quarter,  this  time  blowing 
directly  on  toward  land.  The  resort  of  running 
still  before  it  was  not  to  be  thought  of,  and  our 
critical  condition  became  apparent.  No  one  had  a 
hope  in  the  course  to  which  necessity  compelled 
us — a  run,  head  on,  or  nearly  so,  to  the  sea. 


586 


HARPER'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


LIGHT-SHIP  OFF  POET  ROVAL  HABHOK. 


In  the  harbor  of  Port 
Royal  we  found  the 
Montauk  and  Ironsides 
(the  former  having  ar- 
rived several  days  be- 
fore us),  and  quite  a 
fleet  of  men-of-war  at 
anchor  in  their  vicinity. 
Our  anchorage  was  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the 
machine  -  shop.  This 
shop  is  not  on  shore, 
but  in  the  creek  above 
Bay  Point,  and  is  mere- 
ly a  most  convenient 
wooden  shed,  erected 
over  a  couple  of  New 
Bedford  whalers.  In 
this  establishment  are  a 
foundry,  a  blaeksmith- 
?hop,  a  carpenter-shop, 
and  a  machine-shop. 
In  the  repair  of  the  iron- 
clad fleet  especially  this 
shop  afterward  proved 
of  immense  service. 

No  opportunity  pre- 
sented of  going  ashore 
at  Hilton  Head,  as  we 
sailed  upon  sudden  or- 
ders, after  this  wise : 
The  Montauk  had  been 
sent  two  days  before  to 
take  a  fort  on  the 
Ogeechee  River,  behind 
which  the  Nashville  was 
reported  to  have  taken 
refuge.  She  did  not 
succeed,  and,  as  we  sup- 


posed, we  were   to   go 
How  that  day  and  night  passed  it  would  be  1  down  immediately  to  her  assistance.    The  order 

came  on  Monday,  January  20,  in  the  afternoon  ; 
by  night  all  was  ready ;  and  the  following  morn- 
ing was  to  see  us  off.  Morning  came,  and  the 
next,  and  the  next,  yet  still  we  lay  at  Port  Roy- 
al, the  wind  and  waves  seeming  to  vie  with  each 
other  in  their  opposition. 

Verification  of  the  former  report  from  the 
Montauk  came  on  Thursday,  with  particulars 
of  the  engagement.  She  had  seen  the  Nash- 
ville ;  had  gone  within  fifteen  hundred  yards  of 
the  battery,  and  came  upon  obstructions — piles 
driven  across  channel,  and  torpedoes.     She  was 


hard  to  tell.  Once  we  nearly  ran  on  the  shoals, 
but  where,  no  one  knew;  and  on  Wednesday 
morning,  for  the  first  time,  the  sun  came  out. 
Observation  at  noon  made  us  out  just  30  miles 
north  of  Port  Royal,  30  miles  from  land,  and 
about  off  Charleston.  Steering  now  for  Port 
Royal,  we  made  it  about  4  p.3i.,  and  ran  in 
through  the  long,  narrow  channel  to  Hilton 
Head,  where  we  anchored  just  after  dark.  The 
pleasure  of  such  voyaging  as  we  had  experienced 
was  not  much  enhanced  by  the  impossibility  of 


getting  cooked  or  warm  food,  the  water,  a  great 

part  of  the  time,  putting  out  the  galley  fire,  or  I  obliged  to  anchor  and  open  fire  at  that  distance. 

the  intense  heat  continually  driving  out  the  [  The  result  was  merely  to  dismount  one  or  two 


cooks  from  their  narrow  den.  Yet,  with  all  the 
disagreeable,  there  was  still  much  that  was  sub- 
lime :  the  majesty  of  the  waves,  as  we  looked  at 
them  from  their  bases — the  peculiarity  of  oar 
situation  on  an  iron  ship,  always  under  water, 
yet  still  floating,  and  seeming  to  battle  for  its 
existence  with  the  waves — the  fountain -like 
burst  of  water  through  the  anchor-well,  rising 
sometimes  to  a  height  of  twenty  feet — and  the 
storms  that  seemed,  in  their  fury  and  incessan- 
cy,  bent  on  our  destruction. 


guns,  use  all  her  shell,  do  no  particular  damage  to 
the  battery  (which  was  an  earth-work),  and  haul 
off  to  wait  for  some  assistance.  She  was  hit  thir- 
teen times,  but  not  at  all  injured.  Meantime  we 
were  at  Port  Royal,  having  first  a  day  of  fog  and 
storm,  and  then  a  day  of  most  severe  blows  from 
every  quarter  of  the  compass.  Friday  morning 
came — still  blew  the  wind,  and  angrily  dashed 
the  waves.  No  calm,  no  news,  no  letters.  On 
Saturday,  however,  the  weather  proved  beautiful, 
and  the  steamer  James  Adger,  the  former  con- 


CRUISE  OF  THE  PASSAIC. 


S87 


--■    s 


UEAD   ON   TO  6HA   LN   A  i'OU. 


sort  of  the  Montauk,  awaited  us  at  the  entrance 
of  the  harbor. 

We  certainly  did  seem  designed  for  working 
mischief  to  every  body  ;  for  the  tide  drifting  the 
Adger  toward  us  almost  imperceptibly,  and  we 
coming  up  with  a  very  little  too  much  headway, 
we  must  need  run  crash  into  her,  breaking  a 
bole  into  the  stern  under  the  quarter,  and  only 
by  dint  of  much  yelling  "  Back  her!  back  her !" 
"Go  ahead  there,  go  ahead!"  "We  shall  sink 
you!"  etc.,  did  we  avoid  running  clear  through. 
Our  flag-staff  was  carried  away ;  but  having  been 
designed  expressly  for  running  into  vessels,  there 
was  small  concern  for  damage  to  our  craft.  Lad- 
ders were  lowered  and  the  condition  of  the  open- 
ing examined,  with  the  result  of  risking  any  leak- 
age, and  keeping  right  on  to  our  destination.  The 
sea  continued  smooth  as  a  mirror,  and  at  noon, 
to  the  surprise  of  all  but  the  commanding  officers, 
we  entered  Warsaw  Sound,  instead  of  Ossibaw, 
to  join  the  Montauk. 

Two  gun-boats,  the  Marblehead  and  Conne- 
maugh,  were  lying  there  at  anchor,  and  it  was 
not  long  ere  the  news  of  the  iron-clad  rebel  ram 
Pinga!  being  down  from  Savannah  as  far  as 


Thunder-bolt  Battery  (rebel),  in  the  Wilmington 
River,  was  received  as  a  reason  for  our  visit. 
The  information  was  brought  by  deserters,  who 
stated  that  she  was  to  run  down  to  liberate  the 
Nashville.  Now  there  were  but  two  ways  for 
this  to  be  accomplished ;  one,  through  a  narrow 
shallow  creek  called  the  Burnside  River,  never 
deep  enougli  except  at  unusual  spring  tides,  and 
the  other  down  Warsaw  Sound,  and  byway  of  the 
sea.  There  is,  however,  a  channel  called  "  The 
Way  of  tiie  Romney  Marshes,"  much  shorter 
(hut  only  available  for  craft  drawing  eight  or  nine 
feet),  opening  into  the  sound  within  sight  of  our 
anchorage.  Reliable  information  also  had  been 
received  that  two  steamers,  loaded  with  cotton, 
were  above  in  the  Wilmington  River  (which 
leads  to  Savannah),  and  intended  running  the 
blockade.  Meantime  an  almost  incessant  firing 
was  kept  up  by  the  Montauk,  about'twelve  miles 
below,  at  the  fort  beforementioned.  The  cap- 
tain was  strongly  inclined  to  go  down  to  assist ; 
but  finally,  knowing  that  we  could  not  arrive 
before  night,  gave  it  up,  cleared  the  ship  for  ac- 
tion, took  on  board  a  Savannah  pilot,  and  we 
headed  up  the  Wilmington  River  toward  Savan- 


QUITE  A  ULOIV. 


nah.  Anticipations  of  a  great  battle  and  an 
easy  victory  were  not  the  least  ingredients  in 
the  emotions  of  those  few  hours.  The  Marble- 
head  accompanied  us,  and  together  our  strength 
seemed  by  no  means  despicable  against  any 
force. 

At  12  o'clock  all  hands  were  called  to  quar- 
ters opposite  a  deserted  fort  called  the  Redhouse 
Battery,  and  some  evidence  of  rebels  being  seen 
the  Marblehead  opened  fire  among  the  bushes, 
eliciting  no  reply.  By  half  past  two  we  came 
within  sight  of  Savannah,  and  within  range  of 
"  Thunder-bolt,"  and  anchored.  Thefort,  guns, 
and  men  were  plainly  visible,  but  no  guns  were 
fired.  Two  or  three  regiments  of  men  were 
drawn  up,  and  a  steamer  could  be  seen  getting 
under  way  directly  abreast  the  fort.  She  was 
low  in  the  water  and  black,  but  it  was  impossi- 
ble to  judge  of  her  size  or  strength.  Not  a  gun 
was  fired,  and  in  silence  we  looked  at  each  oth- 
er, then  turned  and  steamed  down,  the  rebels 
giving  three  cheers  as  we  departed.  Only  a  re- 
connoissance  after  all.  All  the  way  down  the 
river  the  shore  was  lined  with  most  beautiful 
evergreens,  and  here  and  there  luxuriant  growths 
of  fruit-trees  and  plantations  of  richest  beauty ; 
but  every  horike  was  tenantless,  and  many  falling 
to  ruin.  Over  every  thing  the  blight  of  war 
seemed  to  hang  like  a  shadow ;  and  though  all 
was  as  bright  in  Nature  as  in  a  Northern  sum- 
mer, there  was  a  melancholy  sense  of  desolation 
in  it  most  saddening. 

The  men  were  disappointed  at  the  result  of 


the  reconnoissance,  and  especially  so  since  ail 
day  the  guns  of  the  Montauk  could  be  heard  at 
intervals  in  her  initiatory  battle.  Disappoint- 
ment gave  place  to  anxiety  as  to  her  success, 
and  it  was  decided  to  send  a  boat  with  an  armed 
crew  down  by  way  of  the  Romney  Marshes. 
Before  it  started,  however,  a  steamer  of  light 
draught  was  seen  coming  through,  and  we  waited 
in  great  impatience  her  arrival.  Several  army 
officers  were  on  board,  and  a  huge  negro  was 
perched  on  the  bows  by  way  of  figure-head. 
The  news  was  not  encouraging  certainly.  "  Did 
she  take  the  fort?"  "No!"  She  was  engaged 
for  five  hours  and  a  half,  and  then  obliged  to 
retire  with  forty-six  wounds,  a  smoke-stack 
completely  riddled,  bolts  driven  through  the 
pilot-house  into  the  chamber,  and  various  in- 
juries of  a  less  serious  character,  though  none 
were  of  material  importance.  No  one  was  killed 
or  wounded  on  board.  This  certainly  was  not 
good  news  ;  yet  we  were  destined  to  hear  worse 
by  the  same  steamer  on  her  return  from  Port 
Boyal  on  the  following  evening. 

We  determined  on  Monday  to  try  our  luck  at 
hunting  again.  At  about  10  o'clock  we  pro- 
cured a  boat,  and  arming  with  revolvers  as  well 
as  rifles  lest  we  should  meet  an  enemy,  we  pushed 
off  for  shore.  Our  sport  was  not  destined  to  be 
very  great ;  for  the  steamer  from  Port  Royal 
might  arrive  at  any  moment,  and  we  have  to  re- 
turn suddenly  to  the  ship,  or  the  Pingal  might 
appear,  and  we  have  suddenly  to  appear  on  board 
for  battle.     The  shore  was  lined  with  oysters, 


CRUISE  OF  THE  PASSAIC. 


589 


TENAXTLESS. 

and  the  men  went  at  once  to  collecting  them 
while  we  struck  out  for  game.  The  first  unfor- 
tunate animal  which  appeared  was  a  racoon,  and 
I  blazed  away  at  him  with  only  the  effect  of  in- 
creasing his  speed  and  losing  him  in  the  tall 
grass.  In  vain  was  search  made  for  him  to 
prove  that  at  least  the  bullet  had  wounded  him  ; 
and  just  as  I  had  given  it  up  the  men  came 
across  and  dispatched  him  with  boat-hooks,  lug- 
ging him  off  in  triumph.  Our  party  consisted, 
as  at  Bogue  Sound,  of  four  officers  and  a  crew 
of  seven  men.  With  differences  of  taste,  varied 
the  amusement  for  all  but  two,  a  friend  and  my- 
self preferred  no  higher  game  than  oysters.  We 
aspired  to  duck,  and  accordingly  struck  off  into 
the  woods,  ^fot  a  duck  was  to  be  seen,  and 
coming  out  of  the  thicket  upon  the  shore  I  was 
sitting  down  to  wait  for  the  passing  of  our  boat 
while  my  companion  walked  off  in  search  of  it. 
A  few  minutes  had  passed  only  when,  rising  to 
look  about,  I  was  startled  by  the  sharp  hiss  of  a 
bullet,  the  report  of  a  rifle,  and  the  thug  of  the 
ugly  messenger  as  it  struck  into  a  tree  against 
which  I  had  been  leaning.  No  rebel  was  in 
sight ;  but  it  was  plainly  time  to  move,  as,  who- 
ever he  was,  he  had  the  advantage  of  conceal- 
ment. Jnst  at  this  moment  though  the  boat 
came  in  sight,  and  now  for  the  first  time  the 
unpleasantness  of  my  situation  became  apparent ; 
for  the  receding  tide  had  left  the  flats  so  slightly 
covered  with  water  that,  although  enough  was 
left  to  deceive  one,  it  was  impossible  to  get  the 
boat  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  shore. 
The  night  was  coming  on,  and  the  vicinity  of 
my  unseen  friend  of  the  rifle  made  a  stay  till 
morning  not  at  all  tempting. 

The  flats  were  rapidly  bared,  and  the  soft 
black  mud  offered  no  prospect  of  a  safe  journey 
across.  However,  there  was  no  other  way.  I 
tried  to  wade,  and  sank  at  the  first  step  above 
the  knee ;  at  the  second  deeper  still.  It  was  use- 
less to  proceed  ;  yet  it  must  be  done :  so  finding 


a  box  among  the  drift-wood,  I 
started  once  more  with  it  in 
hand  to  keep  me  up.  After 
laborious  and  painful  work  I 
had  gotten  about  fifty  yards 
from  shore,  when  I  had  to  give 
it  up.  Deeper  and  deeper  I 
sank  in  the  black  oozy  mud. 
Had  the  gun  I  carried  been  my 
own  I  should  have  thrown  it 
away ;  but  I  clung  to  it,  and 
the  box  really  proved  my  safe- 
guard. I  was  sinking  rapidly 
nearly  to  my  waist,  and  thor- 
oughly exhausted.  By  stren- 
uous exertion  I  got  partly  up 
and  sat  on  .the  box  to  rest. 
How  I  got  back  I  can  not  re- 
member, but  back  I  did  get  at 
last  and  threw  myself  on  the 
sand.  There  was  only  one 
chance  of  avoiding  a  stay  till 
midnight  at  least,  and  that  was 
to  trudge  over  about  three 
miles  of  marsh  to  where  my  companion  had  got- 
ten aboard.  After  my  hard  wading  it  was  a  ter- 
rible task.  The  boat  met  me  there,  and  we  re- 
turned to  the  ship  satisfied  with  hunting. 

That  night  the  steamer  returned  bringing 
news  of  the  raid  of  the  rebel  rams  at  Charles- 
ton, the  account  of  which  is  now  so  well  re- 
membered.     It  was  most  discouraging. 

For  several  days  we  lay  at  anchor  in  Warsaw 
Sound  always  ready  for  the  Fingal.  Hatches 
all  down  at  sunset,  and  the  ship  ready  for  ac- 
tion at  a  moment's  warning.  The  rattle  was 
laid  at  hand  on  the  top  of  the  turret,  and  a  box 
of  hand-grenades  exposed  in  their  case  ready  to 
be  seized  at  a  word.  »On  the  4th  of  February 
she  was  made  out  coming  down,  accompanied  by 
a  smaller  steamer ;  yet  we  were  again  disap- 
pointed. They  took  a  good  view  of  us  as  we 
had  of  them  and  retired. 

Every  body  relapsed  into  the  old  monotonous 
routine  of  blockade  life,  unbroken  for  days  and 
weeks  together.  There  was,  however,  one  thing 
which  did  and  always  will  excite  commotion, 
and  that  is  the  arrival  of  the  mail.  Through 
many  and  many  a  weary  hour  *\ve  would  look 
with  hope  toward  the  sea  for  the  expected  steam- 
er, and  find  only  the  same  panorama  of  jutting 
point,  of  breaking  wave,  of  long  lines  of  mist, 
and  the  wide  ocean.  But  when  at  last  it  would 
come  every  one  was  awake,  and  the  anticipation 
of  a  letter  from  home  would  make  ample  amends 
for  waiting.  Only  those  who  have  experienced 
it  can  have  any  idea  of  the  pain  that  failure  to 
receive  a  letter  under  such  circumstances  will 
cause.  We  learn  to  make  it  a  sort  of  land- 
mark— a  goal  that  will  well  repay  the  reaching. 
Mopes  and  expectations  of  happiness  find  a  sort 
of  climax  in  the  mail.  Even  the  routine  of 
ship-duties,  which  alone  formerly  varied  the 
monotony  of  life,  would,  after  a  mail,  become 
themselves  monotonous.  The  boatswain  called 
in  the  same  hoarse  voice  for  the  relieving  watch 


590 


HARPER'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


ABRIVAL  OF  TUB   MAIL. 


(for  half  the  crew  were  constantly  at  their  posts, 
to  guard  against  sudden  attack  by  boarding) ; 
and  the  whistle  for  side-boys  to  receive  a  visitor 
was  replaced  only  by  the  dull  roar  of  some  dis- 
tant gun,  reminding  us  that  visitors  could  not 
disturb  us  there. 

Game  seemed  to  be  abundant,  but  various 
captures  by  the  rebels  of  ufficers  on  hunting  ex- 
peditions rendered  extreme  caution  necessary, 
and  but  few  wild  hogs  or  ducks  found  their  way 
to  our  unfortunate  table.  Unfortunate,  indeed, 
for  a  dearth  of  edibles  was  gradually  coming  on, 
and  salt-horse  and  beans  were  being  metamor- 
phosed into  luxuries.  In  vain  were  longing 
glances  cast  seaward.  No  steamer  was  in  sight. 
There  was  no  flour,  no  butter,  no  sugar,  no  po- 
tatoes in  mere  hope,  and — but  enough  to  say  no 
one  anticipated  danger  from  gout  or  dyspepsia. 

Something  more  than  pleasure  suggested  a 
hunt,  and  several  of  the  officers  set  off  accord- 
ingly. Some  idea  of  the  character  of  the  forests 
thereabout  may  be  gathered  from  my  share  of 
that  expedition.  Not  caring  to  hunt,  I  was 
tempted  by  the  cool  shade  to  saunter  along  at 
first ;  then  to  penetrate  the  thickets ;  then,  be- 
fore I  was  aware  of  it,  to  wade  through  marshes 
or  crawl  through  underbrush,  to  find  what  was 
evidently  lost — my  way.  At  length,  hearing  a 
slight  tapping  not  far  off,  and  not  caring  lon- 
ger for  direction,  I  set  off  to  follow  the  sound. 
The  farther  I  advanced  the  less  distinct  became 
the  sound,  till  suddenly  directly  before  me  ap- 
peared a  monstrous  snake  dangling  across  a  low 
crotched  tree,  lazily  swinging  back  and  forth 
in  the  sun.     He  did  not  see  me  evidently,  for 


he  took  no  notice,  and  a  respectable  distance 
was  soon  put  between  us.  He  was  a  most  vil- 
lainous-looking creature,  and  not  by  any  means 
a  desirable  acquaintance.  The  afternoon's  hunt 
resulted  in  the  death  of  one  duck  and  a  wild 
boar,  the  toughness  of  whose  flesh  suggested  the 
probability  of  his  having  been  almost  ready  to 
die  of  old  age. 

On  the  24th  of  February  a  scho*ner  was  dis- 
covered ashore  a  mile  or  so  away,  which  proved 
to  be  a  prize  loaded  with  cotton  and  jewelry,  and 
valued  at  about  $30,000.  This  poor  little  craft 
was  the  only  prize  of  the  cruise.  During  our 
stay  at  this  place  various  contrabands  came  down 
the  river  at  night,  some  of  them  bringing  useful 
information.  They  were  sent  immediately  to 
Port  Royal. 

On  the  evening  Of  the  last  of  February  we 
made  a  sail  off  the  bar,  which  proved  to  be  the 
steamer  Locust  Point,  with  dispatches.  Her 
captain  only  knew  that  some  movement  or  other 
was  on  foot,  and  that  several  iron-clads  had  al- 
ready sailed  from  Port  Royal.  All  was  soon 
excitement  and  bustle,  and  as  soon  as  tide  would 
permit  going  over  the  bar  we  were  off  in  tow  of 
the  Locust  Point,  and  moving  southward. 

As  the  sun  was  setting  we  entered  Ossibaw 
Sound,  and  found  a  powerful  fleet  already  ar- 
rived. There  were  three  Monitor  iron-clads  and 
four  or  five  gun-boats,  besides  three  mortar- 
schooners.  The  news  was,  however,  startling. 
The  Montauk  had  succeeded  in  destroying  the 
Nashville,  as  well  as  having  tested  a  torpedo  in 
the  river.  The  story  of  her  running  up  in  the 
earlv  morning  under  the  fire  of  the  fort ;  of  find- 


CRUISE  OF  THE  PASSAIC. 


591 


s  siil  IftlilSlsiiliiiftiik.  <*- 


LOST   IN   A  6WA.MI'. 


ing  the  Nashville  ashore,  and  there  setting  her 
on  fire  with  shell,  is  already  familiar.  The 
splendid  ship  that  had  defied  all  competitors  in 
point  of  speed,  with  500  bales  of  cotton,  and 
loaded  with  contraband  articles  of  all  kinds,  was 
burned  to  the  water's-edge.  The  fragments  of 
half-burned  cotton  were  for  days  seen  floating 
down  the  river.  The  torpedo,  as  is  well  known, 
exploded  under  the  starboard  boiler,  starting  a 
serious  leak,  and  necessitating  running  the  ship 
on  the  shoals.  She  was  consequently  unable  to 
take  part  in  the  attack  meditated  by  the  fleet. 

A  whole  day  was  spent  in  stripping  the  ships 
for  action,  and  the  following  morning  saw  us 
within  sight  of  the  enemy's  guns,  and  within 
range  again  almost  of  the  ruins  of  the  Nashville. 
All  night  boats  had  been  out  dragging  for  tor- 
pedoes ;  and  many  were  the  expressions  of  hope 
or  uncertainty  as  to  our  experiences  of  the  event- 
ful morrow. 

With  the  earliest  break  of  day  all  hands  were 
roused  and  made  ready  for  action.  At  S  o'clock 
we  swung  to  the  flood,  hoisted  anchor,  and  start- 
ed. The  fort  to  be  attacked  was  M'Allister. 
Only  the  iron-clads  were  to  engage,  while  the 
others  were  to  lie  anchored  about  a  mile  below. 
Slowly  we  proceeded  in  Indian  file  till,  at  nine 
o'clock  and  twenty  minutes,  the  first  shot  passed 
over  us ;  then  another,  and  another.  Our  1 5-inch 
gnn  responded  with  a  shell  that  went  plump  into 
an  embrasure.  The  enemy  soon  proved  them- 
selves no  mean  marksmen,  for  every  shot  (and 
they  came  rapidly)  struck  or  fell  near  us,  now 
shaking  the  ship  from  stem  to  stern,  now  cutting 
into  our  decks,  but  never  doing  us  any  serious 
damage.  Our  fire  was  kept  up  with  gratifying 
success  ;'the  turret  moving  with  wonderful  pre- 
cision, and  every  shot  and  shell  telling  on  the 
casemates  of  the  battery.  For  an  hour  or  two 
the  work  went  on  merrily,  the  firing  grew  more 
careful  and  effective  on  both  sides,  and  the  ex- 
citement less  intense  as  the  peculiar  feeling  of 
security  in  our  iron  armor  became  more  con- 
firmed. No  correctness  of  description  can  ap- 
proach the  reality  of  such  an  engagement.    The 


heavy  crash  of  shot  against  the  sides,  the  scream 
of  passing  shell,  or  the  thunder  of  their  explo- 
sion overhead ;  the  quiver  of  the  whole  ship,  and 
the  jingling  of  lamps  and  crockery  at  the  fire  of  ■ 
our  own  monstrous  gun ;  the  suffocating  smoke 
from  the  turret,  and  the  novelty  of  our  situation, 
combined  to  render  the  whole  affair  one  of  in- 
tensest  interest. 

After  an  hour  or  two  several  men  were  no- 
ticed skulking  in  the  long  meadow  grass  on  the 
shore  of  the  river  near  which  we  were  anchored, 
evidently  watching  the  movement  of  the  turret, 
and  firing  at  intervals  at  the  ports  and  sight- 
holes  in  the  pilot-house.  Our  pilot,  a  refugee 
from  Savannah,  sent  down  for  a  rifle.  As  it 
went  up  the  chances  of  one  of  these  men  went 
down,  for  he  was  known  as  an  unerring  shot. 
A  white  face  peered  above  the  rushes ;  there  was 
a  flash  and  a  sharp  report,  arid  it  disappeared. 
The  pleasant  amusement  of  his  companions  was 
therefore  varied  by  carrying  off  his  dead  body, 
and  they  troubled  us  no  more.  All  day  the 
fight  lasted,  but  as  yet  the  red  white  and  red 
badge  of  rebellion  floated  from  the  fort.  The 
change  of  tide  and  swinging  of  the  ships  obliged 
all  to  retire  toward  evening  to  our  old  anchorage 
below. 

At  evening  a  summary  was  taken  of  injuries. 
We  had  been  hit  about  forty  times  ;  one  boat 
smashed,  the  flag  riddled,  the  pennant-staff  sl-ot 
away,  our  whistle  also,  several  ragged  tears  in 
the  deck-armor,  and  one  by  a  mortar  shell  of 
rather  an  ugly  character,  a  cross-beam  of  the 
turret  broken,  and  a  few  bolts  driven  out  of 
the  pilot-house.  Not  another  iron  -  clad  was 
struck.  No  one  on  our  side  was  either  killed  or 
wounded.  When  darkness  came  on  the  mortar 
schooners  took  up  position  and  opened  fire.  It 
was  a  beautiful  sight;  the  mortar  would  roar 
and  belch  forth  a  crown  of  flame,  and  the  shell 
could  be  seen  rising  high  and  higher  till  almost 
out  of  sight,  then  to  fall  and  burst  in  the  forti- 
fications. All  night  they  kept  up  the  bombard- 
ment, and  even  up  to  breakfast-time  the  next 
morning.  With  what  effect,  however,  we  could 
not  ascertain,  as  we  fought  the  battery  no  more 
the  day  following  on  account  of  wind  and  tide, 
and  ere  night  received  orders  to  return  to  Port 
Royal  immediately. 

Among  the  incidents  of  our  battle  with  Fort 
MAllister  was  one  worth  recording.  A  young 
man  who  had  charge  of  the  largest  gun  on  the 
enemy's  battery,  seemed,  after  an  hour  or  so 
hard  lighting,  to  conclude  that  a  shot  might  be 
got  into  our  port-holes,  and  he  was  observed  to 
lean  over  his  gun  careless  of  the  incessant  fire 
from  the  vessels  and  watch  our  turret.  He 
seemed  to  be  guided  by  the  variation  of  light 
and  shade  only,  for  the  whole  ship  was  painted  a 
sombre  black.  Just  so  soon  then  as  our  ports  pre- 
sented and  our  guns  were  being  sighted,  he  would 
bend  in  the  coolest  manner,  take  deliberate  aim 
and  fire.  The  consequences  of  this  coolness 
were  afterward  shown  by  five  or  six  shot  in  a 
direct  line  of  the  ports,  one  only  three  inches 
below  the  opening. 


592 


HARPER'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


The  voyage  back  to  Port  Royal  was  quick  and 
pleasant,  and  upon  arriving  there  the  Catskill, 
an  iron-clad  also  of  the  Monitor  pattern,  was 
found  to  have  arrived.  Our  anchorage  was 
again  near  the  machine-shop,  and  various  re- 
pairs were  immediately  commenced,  as  well  as 
additions  to  strength. 

It  was  supposed  one  or  two  weeks  at  most 
would  suffice  to  finish  the  work,  but  so  utterly 
devoid  of  energy  were  the  workmen  employed, 
that  hardly  any  perceptible  advance  could  be 
seen  from  day  to  day.  They  would  come  at  9 
a.m.  and  go  away  at  three,  leaving  off  one  hour 
from  twelve  to  one  for  dinner.  It  is  a  fact  that 
I  never  saw  more  than  two  working  at  a  time, 
the  rest  looking  on  or  gaping  around  decks,  and 
one  man  I  actually  found  asleep  at  only  ten  in 
the  morning,  and  this  while  we  were  anxiously 
waited  for  by  the  Government  in  the  great  attack 
upon  Charleston.  The  men,  however,  only  re- 
ceived three  dollars  and  a  half  per  day,  besides 
their  food,  and  could  not  he  expected  to  hurry  ! 
The  whole  harbor  was  filled  with  ships  of  every 
kind — gun-boats,  transports,  schooners,  andmen- 
of-war,  all  preparing  in  some  way  for  the  ap- 
proaching battle.  One  after  the  other  the  iron- 
clads left  the  harbor  each  in  tow  of  some  large 
steamer,  and  we  were  left  with  the  Montauk, 
which  was  at  the  time  also  undergoing  repair. 
The  annoyance  of  delay  could  not,  of  course, 
last  forever,  and  eighteen  days  from  the  date  of 
anchoring  we  started  again,  now  for  the  final 
rendezvous  at  North  Edisto,  twelve  miles  from 
Charleston.  Months  of  expectation  and  prepa- 
ration had  not  failed  to  rouse  the  anxiety  and 


TUE  COOL  GCNNEE. 


impatience  of  every  one,  and  all  were  eager  to 
hasten  the  attack  and  decide  our  fate.  Daily 
reports  from  every  quarter  of  the  perfect  de- 
fenses,  the  impassable  obstructions,  the  rnon- 


WOEKMEN  AT  POET  EOYAL. 


THE  CRUISE  OF  THE  PASSAIC. 


593 


strous  torpedoes,  and  the  desperation  of  the  en- 
emy, were  only  additional  fuel  to  the  fire ;  so 
tha.t  it  was  without  regret  we  started  on  our 
mission.  The  general  outline  of  that  memor- 
able engagement  is,  perhaps,  familiar  to  every 
one ;  yet  an  account  of  it,  as  those  on  the  iron- 
clads saw  it,  may  not  be  uninteresting. 

Certain  inventions  called  "devils,"  for  blow- 
ing up  obstructions,  being  merely  triangular 
rafts  with  torpedoes  suspended  underneath  and 
designed  to  be  pushed  ahead  of  the  ships,  were 
towed  up  by  the  steamer  "Ericsson."  These 
affairs  were  christened  r'  boot-jacks"  from  their 
peculiar  shape,  yet  only  one  captain  was  found 
willing  to  risk  his  vessel  by  having  such  a  dan- 
gerous instrument  attached.  It  was,  therefore, 
arranged  that  he  should  take  the  lead,  not  only 
to  avoid  getting  entangled  with  the  rest  (for  the 
infernal  machine  exploded  by  percussion),  but  to 
clear  up  any,  sunken  obstructions  that  might  be 
in  the  way.  Life-rafts,  capable  of  holding  a 
ship's  crew,  had  been  provided  for  every  iron- 
clad, and  after  arriving  at  North  Edisto  they  were 
rigged  and  tried.  Imagine  four  enormous  life- 
preservers,  eighteen  or  twenty  feet  long  by  four 
in  diameter,  lashed  firmly  to  eacli  other,  with 
two  or  three  boards  as  seats  and  for  attachment 
of  mast  and  row-locks  thrown  across,  the  whole 
affair  inflated  by  bellows,  and  you  may  realize 
some  idea  of  the  character  of  one  of  them.  They 
sailed  remarkably  well. 

A  day  or  two  was  consumed  in  a  few  final 
arrangements  at  North  Edisto,  and  on  Sunday, 
the  5th  of  April,  the  iron-clad  fleet  steamed 
away  for  Charleston — nine  all  told,  seven  Moni- 
tors, the  Ironsides,  and  the  Keokuk.      Imme- 


diately upon  arriving  off  the  bar  the  latter  vessel, 
drawing  only  seven  or  eight  feet  of  water,  went 
in  to  sound  out  a  channel,  and  lay  buoys  for 
the  rest.  Not  a  gun  was  fired  at  her,  the  en- 
emy not  seeming  interested  in  the  subject,  or 
else  willing  to  give  that  small  advantage.  Sev- 
eral hours  were  thus  occupied,  and  rough  weath- 
er coming  on,  the  bar  was  not  crossed  until  the 
following  morning.  In  every  direction  there 
seemed  to  be  nothing  but  batteries  and  guns, 
while  Fort  Sumter's  walls  were  crowded  with 
pieces  of  every  description. 

The  moment  had  come.  Every  one  looked 
anxiously  toward  the  Ironsides,  on  which  the 
Admiral  had  taken  quarters,  for  the  signal  to 
start.  Thirty  guns  against  four  hundred !  How 
hopeless  seemed  the  task!  No  wooden  gun- 
boats or  men-of-war  crossed  the  bar,  and  no 
mortar-schooners  took  up  position  to  shell  the 
batteries.  The  former  would  soon  have  been 
riddled  with  shot;  the  latter  rendered  inefficient 
by  the  roughness  of  the  sea,  even  inside  the  bar. 
The  iron  ships  were  alone  to  undertake  the 
work.  They  were  each  and  all  thoroughly 
smeared  with  grease  to  glance  shot,  and  their 
smoke-stacks  painted  of  various  colors,  as  dis- 
tinguishing marks.  Shortly  after  noon,  April 
7,  18(i3,  the  signal  was  raised,  and  the  battle  so 
long  anticipated  was  to  begin. 

No  one  looking  from  tins  side  the  battle  can 
realize  the  feelings  of  the  participants  just  on 
its  eve.  Slowly  we  steamed  along  in  single 
file,  and  gradually  there  settled  down  a  solemn 
hush  almost  death-like.  The  moments  seemed 
lengthened  to  hours;  and  not  a  sound  save  the 
plash  of  the  propeller  broke  the  terrible  silence. 


594 


HARPEE'S  NEW  MONTHLY  MAGAZINE. 


Passed  one  battery  after  another,  and  not  a  gun 
was  fired.  A  torpedo  blowing  the  ship  into  the 
air  would  almost  have  been  welcomed,  when 
suddenly,  like  the  crash  of  thunder,  every  bat- 
tery opened,  and  for  a  few  long  moments  the 
roar  of  guns,  the  hiss  and  scream  of  shells,  the 
quivering  of  the  ship,  and  the  tremendous  ex- 
plosions from  our  own  heavy  pieces,  drowned 
the  loud  voices  of  command  and  the  painful 
feelings  of  suspense  alike.  Our  first  shot  was 
at  Moultrie,  and  then  undivided  attention  was 
given  to  the  northeast  angle  of  Sumter,  within 
500  yards  of  which  we  already  were.  In  a  very 
few  moments  not  a  thing  could  be  seen  for  the 
smoke,  and  both  sides  slackened  their  fire,  only 
to  recommence  with  redoubled  fury. 

Piles  could  be  seen  driven  across  the  channel 
from  Sumter  to  the  end  of  Sullivan's  Island  ; 
and  in  front  of  them  a  row  of  barrels,  sustain- 
ing probably  some  sort  of  infernal  machines, 
only  a  few  hundred  yards  ahead ;  and  farther 
in  a  triple  row  (behind  which  were  the  rebel 
rams),  running  from  Fort  Johnson  to  Mount 
Pleasant.  The  preceding  diagram,  drawn  by 
our  pilot,  a  Charleston  man,  may  perhaps  better 
explain  the  condition  of  the  harbor  than  any  de- 
scription. In  less  than  half  an  hour,  so  furious 
was  the  fire,  our  turret  was  temporarily  disa- 
bled, the  top  of  the  pilot-house  blown  off,  the 
11-inch  gun  disabled,  smoke-stack  riddled,  boat 
smashed,  and  various  other  lighter  injuries  in- 
flicted. Signal  was  made  to  that  effect,  and  it 
happening  that  four  others  made  the  same  at 
the  time,  the  whole  fleet  was  ordered  to  retire. 
The  effect  of  even  what  was  believed  a  tempo- 


rary retirement  on  the  crews  was  most  damag- 
ing, so  thoroughly  resigned  had  every  one  be- 
come to  the  belief  that  the  forts  must  be  taken 
or  the  ships  sunk.  There  was,  however,  no 
help  for  what  necessity  required  ;  and  out  again 
from  under  fire  we  all  steamed  to  anchorage, 
opposite  Cummings's  Point  Battery. 

The  Ironsides  had  grounded  for  a  time  off 
Cummings's  Point,  the  Keokuk  had  been  pierced 
in  several  places,  the  Nahant  was  injured  in 
much  the  same  way  as  the  Passaic,  and  the 
whole  fleet  somewhat  seriously  battered.  Not 
one  of  the  Monitors,  however,  was  permanently 
disabled.  The  Keokuk,  about  whose  sinking 
no  fears  were  then  entertained,  anchored  near 
the  channel  by  which  we  had  entered.  All  the 
others  lay  still  within  range,  although  the  ene- 
my kept  silence.  The  damage  to  Fort  Sumter 
could  be  plainly  seen,  and  numerous  immense 
holes  showed  the  power  of  15-inch  shell.  By 
the  morning  the  rebels  were  at  work  mounting 
new  guns,  and  throwing  up  a  new  parapet  of 
sand-bags  on  the  northern  wall  of  the  fort. 

Damages  to  the  fleet  were  soon  repaired,  suf- 
ficiently to  renew  engagement.  But  that  day 
passed,  and  the  next,  and  next,  yet  no  move- 
ment was  again  made.  Murmurs,  dissatisfac- 
tion, and  hard  names  were  frequently  heard 
among  the  officers  and  crew,  who  naturally 
could  not  and  would  not  see  any  reason  for  not 
going  in  again.  For  five  days  we  lay  thus,  our 
discomfort  growing  almost  unbearable.  The 
turret  was  necessarily  kept  raised  for  action, 
and  the  sea  constantly  breaking  over  the  decks, 
a  constant  stream  of  water  was  poured  under- 


WOBK-8UOP  AT  TORT  BOYAL. 


ABIDE  IN  FAITH. 


595 


Death  it  upon  the  blower  belts,  thus  almost  stop- 
ping the  blowers  and  our  supply  of  air ,  added 
to  this,  the  hatches  were  necessarily  kept  down, 
and  the  tracking  of  grease  down  below,  the 
darkness,  the  intensely  foul  air  from  the  con- 
gregation of  eighty  men  into  so  narrow  a  space, 
and  the  rolling  of  the  ship,  could  not  fail  to 
enervate  and  sicken  the  healthiest  crew. 

The  Keokuk  sank  the  day  following  the  bat- 
tle, although  at  low  tide  the  tops  of  her  turrets 
could  be  seen.  She  was  so  nearly  inshore  that 
the  enemy  erected  a  battery  to  prevent  our  rais- 
ing her.  Attempts  were  made  to  blow  her  up 
without  success,  the  devils  being  considered  too 
dangerous  to  employ  for  the  purpose.  She  was 
left  to  bury  herself  in  the  sand,  or  be  destroyed 
by  time,  and  her  iron-clad  companions  in  the 


battle  started  for  Port  Eoyal.  Before  starting, 
however,  the  Nantucket  accidentally  took  fire ; 
but  though  some  alarm  was  created,  no  serious 
damage  resulted,  beyond  the  burning  of  a  few 
stores  and  bulk-heads  below. 

Thus  ended,  in  this  attack  so  briefly  described, 
the  incidents  of  the  cruise ;  for  after  returning 
to  Port  Royal  (though  the  ship  was  supposed  to 
be  destined  for  the  Mississippi)  orders  were  re- 
ceived ere  long  to  proceed  to  New  York.  The 
voyage,  so  tedious  when  outward-bound,  was 
fair  and  pleasant,  and  consumed  only  a  few  days. 

As  I  close  this  record  orders  are  received 
directing  the  Passaic  to  proceed  again  to  the 
South,  to  take  part  in  the  renewed  attack  which 
is  now  being  made  upon  Charleston,  and  in  four- 
and-twenty  hours  we  shall  be  on  our  way. 


ABIDE  IN  FAITH. 

0  PORTALS  of  the  Future,  open  unto  me ; 
Unveil  your  hidden  mysteries  to  my  sight ; 
Let  me  with  prophet  eyes  behold  the  dim  To  Be, 
And  read  the  signs  of  coming  times  aright. 

Roll  back  your  shrouding  folds  and  let  me  enter  in ; 

With  flashing  visions  light  those  aisles  of  gloom, 
Until  from  thence  I  rend  the  secret  that  shalt  win 

A  nation's  triumph  or  a  nation's  doom. 

O  let  mine  eyes  prophetic  read  the  scroll  of  fate, 
Thou  sacred  guardian  of  the  things  to  be : 

Here  at  thy  portals  I,  with  feet  impatient,  wait; 
Their  mystic  bolts  and  bars  unlock  to  me. 

For  I  would  reach  beyond  the  knowledge  of  to-day, 
Would  stand  with  thee  upon  the  heights  afar, 

And  forward  glancing  o'er  the  dark,  uncertain  way, 
See  where  shall  end  the  flaming  trail  of  war. 

And  more :  I  fain  would  know  if  Freedom's  flag  unfurled 
Answers  triumphant  every  scorn  and  sneer 

Flung  on  it  from  that  haughty,  proud  Old  World 
Who  thought  to  see  it  lying  on  her  bier ; 

If  holy  benedictions  rest  their  healing  spell 
,  Upon  the  land  so  late  in  travail  sore ; 
If  millions  have  exultant  heard  the  knell 
Proclaiming  error's  long  dominion  o'er. 

O  grim,  relentless  keeper  of  the  things  to  be ! 

No  welcome  hast  thou,  and  I  plead  in  vain ; 
Thy  black  and  frowning  gates  look  coldly  down  on  me . 

I  turn  with  restless  heart  and  cry  of  pain. 

But,  hark !  a  voice : — serene  and  clear  it  speaks  to  me . 

"0  heart  rebellious,  let  thy  murmurings  cease; 
Know  that  within  the  shadow  of  the  great  To  Be 

Thy  land  lies  smiling  'neath  its  crown  of  peace. 

"In  patience  wait.     Ye  may  not  know  the  day  or  honr, 

Whether  it  draweth  near  or  yet  is  far. 
Abide  in  this :  beyond  where  storm-clouds  lower 

There  rises,  ne'er  to  set,  fair  Freedom's  star." 


UNIVERSITY  OF  N.C.  AT  CHAPEL  HILL 


00032744790 

FOR  USE  ONLY  IN 
THE  NORTH  CAROLINA  COLLECTION 


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